NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
The Las Vegas Raiders are no longer crying out for help. With the firing of their head coach, OC, and GM, the Raiders have hit the reset button on important positions. However, they weren’t done. In a gutsy, yet smart move, they decided to bench starting QB Jimmy Garoppolo in hopes the team can turn things around.
Even sitting at 4-5 on the season after an awful showing against the Detroit Lions on National TV, the Las Vegas Raiders have a slight chance to make something out of nothing. But what was most important over the course of the last few days was how ownership took a stand next to their star players, Josh Jacobs and Davante Adams.
From the beginning of the season, the turmoil was already there. Adams wasn’t happy dating back to last season when the Raiders decided they were going to part ways with his friend and starting QB Derek Carr. Adams knew that was a mistake but he just signed a new deal and ruffling feathers is not his style. Then came the super bombshell.
One of the best RBs in the NFL, Jacobs, and the Raiders couldn’t reach a new deal. From there, the NFL RB crew joined forces and it didn’t look as if Jacobs would suit up for the Las Vegas Raiders this season, but a deal was finally struck and the team was ready to roll. However, the play on the field resembled the same mess that was going on at the end of the prior season. But no one wanted to say it out loud.
There were grumblings, supposedly from Adams that he may want a trade due to certain remarks made to the media. But nothing was done. Then the Monday night game happened which proved to be the final nail in the coffin. Garoppolo and Adams have not been on the same page all season and that game was a clear indication that changes had to be made.
Can The Las Vegas Raiders Turn It Around
But given the Raiders’ history with coaches and still paying Jon Gruden, firing Josh McDaniels didn’t seem doable. But Mark Davis thought otherwise and instead of letting his team sink any deeper and putting distance between his star players, he made the tough call and put his team first.
The Las Vegas Raiders then went out and showed what a cohesive unit could do if all were on the same page and playing for the same goal. While that victory may not jump-start a winning streak, a move still had to be made. With no real movement during the trade deadline, the Las Vegas Raiders are saying this is our team moving forward. These two stars are the leaders here and we need them more than we needed a coach who wasn’t getting the results.
Time and again, players are moved and coaches are fired but for different reasons. Adams is a Hall of Famer when he leaves the game and Jacobs is one of the top backs in the NFL. For the offense to be struggling the way they were, there had to be a disconnect somewhere between the coached voices and the player’s actions. Davis decided the issue was with the voices and not the actions.
He made a gusty call and one that maybe didn’t save the season but he saved the franchise by standing by his guys.
